Greek premier defends bailout deal, painful cuts
(AP)

AP - Warning of a "catastrophe" that would leave Greeks subsisting on food stamps and the country wallowing in bankruptcy, Greek leaders urged lawmakers Saturday to pass more painful spending cuts on the eve of a crucial vote to qualify for a massive bailout.

ATHENS/BRUSSELS: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won backing from lawmakers on Saturday for painful reform proposals aimed at obtaining a new international bailout, but he faced a rebellion in his own party that could threaten his majority in parliament. The measures, which received an initial green light from the European Union and International Monetary Fund before a crucial meeting of the 19 euro zone finance ministers in Brussels, were passed with the support of pro-European opposition parties.

BRUSSELS: European leaders Monday pleaded with Greek voters to back hotly disputed bailout proposals in a crunch referendum or face leaving the euro as bank closures left many in Greece scrambling to find cash. On the eve of an expected debt default that could set Greece on the path to a euro exit, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sought to calm nerves by leaving the door open to talks, saying the July 5 plebiscite on creditors' latest cash-for-reform plans would leave the country "better armed" in the fight for a debt deal.

Berlin (AFP) - European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker called Saturday on the European Union to recognise the gravity of the situation in Greece -- both for the country's impoverished citizens and for the wider risks to the eurozone.

First there was The BRIC nations; then South Africa was rolled in and the group became BRICS; but with news today (following yesterday's Russian invitations for Greece's new leader to meet with Vladimir Putin) that Greece's new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been invited to visit Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, we wonder if the growing non-dollar partnership will be expanded to BRICSH as The Hellenic Republic prepares to walk away from its European

Greek politicians were poised to begin a fourth day of talks to name a new premier Thursday as anger grew domestically and abroad with the debt-wracked country that is flirting dangerously with bankruptcy.Greek President Carolos Papoulias was due to reopen talks with political leaders on a crisis team to implement the terms of an EU bailout deal to maintain the country in the euro and keep it solvent, with reserves running out in weeks.